Barlcay helps us to understand the Gospel reading

John 3:1-17 (NRSV)

Nicodemus Visits Jesus

3Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.²He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ ³Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ ⁴Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ ⁵Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” ⁸The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ ⁹Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ ¹⁰Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

¹¹ ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. ¹²If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶ ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

¹⁷ ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

This reflection is based on a study of William Barclay’s commentary on John’s Gospel.

Nicodemus was one of the aristocracy, wealthy and also a Pharisee. He then spent much of his time trying to slavishly follow the Law that the Scribes thought up in applying the general principles of the Torah into their daily lives. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin – the Court of 70 members. So why did he come to Jesus at night?

It could have been that to meet with Jesus would not have been good for his reputation. Barclay is generous to him suggesting that “... it is a miracle of grace that Nicodemus overcame his prejudices and his upbringing and his whole view of life to come to Jesus.” But it could also have been because it was a tradition among the Scribes and Pharisees that it was better to study the Law at night when there would be fewer distractions. It could well have been because he wanted to spend time alone with Jesus. So Barclay comments: “He came to Jesus for a talk so that somehow in the darkness of the night he might find light.”

Nicodemus had been impressed by the signs and wonders that Jesus had done. Jesus needed to point out to him that these mysteries are not as important as a changed inner life that is so dramatic that it can best be described as being like a new birth. As Hunter adds: what is needed is not just information but a re-orientation as drastic as a new birth.

The Greek word that is used is anothen which can be translated in a number of different ways: (i) from the beginning, completely /’ radically; (ii) again, i.e. for a second time and (iii) from above and therefore from God.  Barclay explains:

“To undergo such a radical change that it is a new birth; it is to have something happen to the soul which can only be described as being born all over again; and the whole process is not a human achievement, because it comes from grace and power of God.”

This idea of new birth runs throughout the New Testament (1 Peter 1:3, 22-23; James 1:18 and Titus 3:5 to mention but a few). Jews knew all about rebirth because when people converted to Judaism they were considered to be like a newborn child in the faith. This was also part of the Greek understanding in their mystery religions. Barclay comments: “When Christianity came to the world, it came with precisely with that for which the world was seeking.”

Being born of water and the Spirit is rich in important symbolism: water is the symbol of cleansing; Spirit is the symbol of power and stands for the cleansing and strengthening power of Christ which wipes out the past and gives victory in the future. What is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit. Barclay explains: “A man by himself is flesh and his power limited to what the flesh can do. By himself he cannot be other than defeated and frustrated.”

We know this because of our experience: when the Spirit of Christ takes hold of us, the defeated life of the human nature becomes the victorious life of God.

Being born again is therefore to be changed in such a way that it can be described only as re-birth and recreation. This change comes when we love Jesus and allow him into our hearts. It is then that we are forgiven for the past and armed by the Spirit for the future; it is only then that we can fully accept the will of God. It is then that:

·         We become citizens of the Kingdom;

·         We become sons and daughters of God;

·         We enter eternal life – which is the very life of God.

It can be argued that there are TWO types of understanding: (i) those who cannot grasp the truth (and we need to try to explain it to them) and (ii) those who are unwilling to understand; who deliberately shut their minds to the truth which they do not wish to understand. Nicodemus seems to have fallen into the latter category. We can suggest this because we know that the idea of new birth would not have been foreign to him because it is clearly explained in the prophecy of Ezekiel (36:26). Barclay states:

“If a man does not wish to be reborn, he will deliberately misunderstand what rebirth means. If a man does not want to be changed, he will deliberately shut his eyes and his mind and his heart to the power which can change him.” Jesus offers rebirth to all; but many choose to say: “No thank you!”

Nicodemus claimed that what Jesus was talking about was impossible. Jesus explained it clearly to him by using the metaphor of wind: you can hear and see and feel the wind, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. You might not understand the workings of the wind, but you experience it sure enough and the effect is plain for all to see. Barclay elaborates: “You may not know how the Spirit works; but you can see the effect of the Spirit on human lives.”

This is part of our experience; it need not remain mere theory because all people can point to others who have been reborn by the power of the Spirit. Barclay adds: “It is important to try to understand Christian truth; but it is more important to experience the power of Jesus Christ.” At the heart of our faith is a mystery; “... but it is not the mystery of intellectual appreciation; it is the mystery of redemption.”

The author of John’s Gospel has thought long and hard about all this and his words have become intertwined with those of Jesus, as Jesus knew the Father personally and his words became intertwined with those of the Father. In this passage we therefore discover that “Jesus was and is the embodied mind of God.” It would appear that Jesus wanted his words to go through the filter of others inspired by the Spirit. What is more awesome is that I believe Jesus wants to speak through us today, so our proclamation is vital, for in it we offer to the world the living word of God.